Five hundred years... How many deities had a grasp on precisely how long that truly was?

It was nothing in the greater course of things, a drop in eternity, certainly. But to look upon the mortal world, one would see that change came with every grain of sand within the hourglass, every trickling moment between one second and the next, every new birth into an old world, every moment in which fact became myth became lost, every gap between the spark of neurological pathways--

Nahash tilted her head, and her numerous reptilian eyes blinked as they studied her own personal domain, situated upon the long, coiling snakes that comprised her 'hair'. All around her, the evidence of the passage of time stood starkly against the sheer immobility of divinity, the unyielding nature of the godly realm. Armor that once was as new as the dew in the morning now bore a layer of rust as thick as its own plating. The fresh fruit upon the ivory table beside it had not been touched in 600 years, preserved by the Serpent's will.

Mirrors reflected her figure sharply in every corner, upon every wall. Some of them reflected a figure other than her own, and others moved independently of her own reflection, but it mattered not. It was the nature of her artifacts, to be... Surreal to the mind. And after 500 years, they could never hope to surprise her again.

The air whistled as it whipped through the numerous passages into her realm of artifacts and memorable things, brushing against ancient steel and glass, hide and papyrus, silk and gold. A memory for every year was contained within the ancient labyrinthine room, and the very air itself puzzled the mind. Crystals contained the knowledge of Nahash, and the memories of her servants-- preserved, forever. It was wondrous, miraculous, a vast expanse of treasures and memories and moments lost to time immortalized.

It was hers, and [i]she was so incredibly bored[/i].

Nahash collapsed backwards with a hiss, slumping into a pile of silken robes. They were the same robes she had been impatiently fretting about in for a hundred years now, just as these walls were the same splendid patterns of platinum and marble and gold and other chaotic configurations. She had marveled at them when they had first arisen, but now they were dull.

500 years without a single visit to the mortal world, a single chance to experience all that had [i]changed[/i]. Nahash felt as if she was about to usurp the god of madness.

"Milady, I--"

The angel blinked at the hand that rested upon his cheek, a hand that had become present between one blink and the next. Those who said the serpentine goddess was quicker than an arrow gave no exaggerations.

Nahash spoke. Her voice was a low, hypnotic by its very nature, alluring in a way that defied explanation. "Servant of the divine, keeper of this realm, I beseech you." She tilted her head up, and the angel was certain her eyes would be pleading, if she possessed any beyond her serpents. "Tell me something has changed, or else I fear my mind is lost."

Rather than replying immediately, the angel presented the Serpent Goddess with the divine message he had been tasked to carry. "You have been summoned, milady."

Slowly, Nahash grinned. Though their faces were rather inflexible, her serpentine hair somehow managed to convey great excitement.

[hr]

Nahash arrived to the hall with all the smooth grace and power befitting a grand serpent, her immensely long tail propelling her across the floor. Her ruby lips were twisted into a sly smile, but it took everything in the Albino Gorgon's power to not simply lunge across the distance and coil around the dragon god in an exuberant hug.

She doubted he would appreciate the gesture.

Rather than embarrass herself and anger the fiery force of nature, Nahash settled for releasing a pleased hum as she examined those in attendance. In truth, not even the presence of Yigzavath could dampen her spirits; they would-- all of them- be returning to the mortal realm soon. How could she find it within herself to be even irritated at the filth god? Kulorerstus still received a displeased flicker of her serpentine tongue, but that was par for the course. [i]Such a brute, that one.[/i]

Nahash's fractured view of the world, a mural of dozens of inhumanly keen eyes, caught sight of one of the Albino Gorgon's favorite goddesses before she had even fully entered the room. Their full attention focused upon her, the many serpentine heads turning to focus upon Del Sombra before Nahash's own head did as well. The deity was clearly elsewhere, as distracted as she was, and the Serpent had no doubt that the events she observed were highly interesting. They usually were.

Nahash slithered forward as smoothly as ever, easily navigating into her own strange throne and nodding respectfully to those she glided past. It was close to the goddess of secrets, more of a bowl than a proper chair, padded with incredibly soft silk and large enough to fit her coiled bulk adequately. Curling into herself in a manner akin to a snake, Nahash leaned back against one of her own coils, her arms draped along its length. She was larger than usual today.

[i]Soon[/i], she promised herself, the Mind Shear tapping a soft rhythm against her own pale scales, [i]We'll be there soon[/i].